Dental investment-cup.



T. 1-1. LEE.

DENTAL mvEsTMENT CUP.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.15,1911.

1,013,U28. Patented Dec. 26, 1911.

gym 110M100 UNTTED STATES Parana DENTAL INVESTMENT-CUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. itl ftit.

Application filed April 15, 1911. Serial No. 621,285.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TIIACKER E. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dental Investment-Cups, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in dental cups or flasks, and has particular application to a device of the class described designed to be used by the dentist in doing bridge-work.

It is usually the practice for the dentist when working upon a bridge to bend a piece of wire or wire gauze to the shape suitable for the work in hand, the wire or gauze so shaped forming a mold or receptacle for the plastic mass or investment material in which the teeth are embedded during the backing and fusing'process. The formation of these crude, temporary receptacles occupies considerable time and labor on the part of the dentist.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a flask or cup which will take the place of the'mold above referred to, and which may be instantly placed in use when desired, without entailing any work on the part of the dentist in forming the same, thereby achieving a considerable saving of time and labor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide adental flask embodying in-its construction the desired features of simplicity, durability and strength, and it is also my purpose to provide an article of the class referred to which will be found convenient and eflicient in use, and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost. i

\Vith the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and forming the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure l is atop plan view of a flask or cup embodying my'invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionahviow, taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section and showing the bell or cover for my flask. Fig. 4: is a plan view of a modified form of cup or flask. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of another modification of flask. Fig. 6 is a. view of still another modification in the form of a band or ring. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the flask shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, illustrating the manner of employing the invention in working upon a tooth bridge.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, and particularly to Fi 1, 2 and 3 thereof, the numeral 1 designates body portion of a preferred form of flask or cup, said body portion in this instance being approximately elliptical in horizontal cross section and is formed of any suitable refractory material; Where l have in this specification and in any of the claims used the expression refractory material I wish it to be understood that I employ this term to mean and include any suitable heat resisting material, such as asbestos, cement, fire clay or a metal such as copper, iron, .brass, sheet metal or the like. This cup or flask which is of any suitable size and proportion is formed with a suitable number of perforations 2 of any desired shape and size for the purpose of allowing the steam and heat to pass from the investing material, as is hereinafter described. The upper longitudinal edges of the cup or flask are preferably cut away or curved as shown at 3.

The numeral 4 indicates a bell or cover for the cup or flask and this bell. is also formed of any suitable material and provided with suitable perforations 5, for the escape of steam or heat from the investing material. At the top of the hell, i pro vide a ring or eye (Eloy means of which the bell may be raised with a small pair of liers or other suitable tool.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a slightly modified form of flask, in this case the latter iii-- dicated by the numeral 7 being crescent in horizontal cross sect-ion and is also provided with suitable perforations 8.

In the further modification shown in Fig. 5, the body of the cue is formed of a wire mesh or gauze, as at 9, the upper edge or rim of the cup body being rolled or rained, as at 10 and is reinforced or stilt-cued by the wire 11 running through the rolled edge.

The form of flask shown in Fig. ii is the nature of a metallic: band or 4 having the lower edge. or rim tapered or turned inward, as is shown at 13, thus constituting an open flask. This ring or band is also formed of any suitable material, such as sheet metal, wire metal or gauze or the like.

flask or cup of the proper-size,

and fills the-samewith a plaster From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanyin I drawings, the construction and manner 0 em loying my improved flask or cup will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. When the dentist desires to make a bridge, he selects a shape and proportion, mass or investing material, such; as shown at M in'Fig. 7 The=work W' is then embedded in the mass and thebacking or solder placed in position and fused in the usual manner, the plastic mass or investing material-00v. ering those portions of the'work which it is not desired to work on atthe time. When the fusing has been completed,the cover may be placed in position and the plastic mass will be nottoo rapidly cooledby the escape of the vapor, steam and heated air through the perforations in the cover and flask.

My invention will be found exceedingly useful and convenient by dentists as the flasks are always ready for use, and enables the operator to save time and labor in making a mold for-the investing material.

While I have shown and described the forms comprising the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to 'be understood that I do not limit myself, to the precise details herein set forth by way of illustration,

as modification and variation may be made -1I1 the form, proportion and minor details of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. A dental investment cup comprising a body portion of refractory material for con taining the investment material and dental work embedded therein, said body portion having vent openings for the escape of heated vapors therefrom.

2. A dental investment cup for containing investment material and the dental work embedded therein, said cup comprising a perforated body portion having curved upper longitudinal edges. i

3. A dental investment cup for containing investment material and'the dental work embedded therein, said cup comprisinga perforated body portion and a perforated cover therefor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses- THACKER E. LEE. Witnesses: i

RICHARD B. CAVANAGH, BENNETT S. Jones. 

